Centrifugal casting machine and method



May 155 1934 w. D. MOQRE El AL CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE AND METHODori inal Filed June 4, 1928 M4 L1 4M E 52 n 1 Wan-r5 Mamet BY v ATTRNEYS.

I Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE ANDMETH William D. Moore and Walter Morgan, Birmingham, Ala., assignors toSand Spun Patents Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Original'application June f4, 1928, Serial No.

282,718. Divided and this application Septem-- ber 11,1930, Serial No.481,254

/ 8 Claims. (01, 22-65) This invention is an improvement in centrifugalcasting machines and method, and more particularly in machines andmethod for producing relatively long hollow castings, such as cast ironpipes, either with or without bell and spigot ends,

in a substantially horizontal mold.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision ofmechanism for properly charging the molten metal into the flask or mold,while it is horizontal, or substantially Another object is the provisionof a pouring trough or spout, of a character such as to'direct the metallongitudinally of the mold to the remote end thereof within a minimum oftime, and

with a minimum of rebound and surging.

with these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter,illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claimsappended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawing forming a part hereof Fig, 1 is a. side elevation, withparts in section, of the upper part of a centrifugal casting ma- 3ochine embodying the improvement.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section, of the pouring trough andassociated parts.

The improvements forming the subject matter of the present invention areshown in'connection'with that type of machine wherein refractory linedmolds or flasks are used, and wherein a freshly lined mold is providedfor each cast.

The mold or flask is supported for rotation in a substantiallyhorizontal position, and a novel form of delivery spout is employed toperfect the distribution of molten metal longitudinally of the mold,without requiring movement of the machine between inclined andhorizontal position.

This application is a division of our prior application Ser, No.282,718, filed June 4, 1928- now Patent Number 1,783,094, and only suchparts of the machine of the prior application are shown, as arenecessary to an understanding of the invention. The improved machineincludes a suitso able frame 1, which is supported above a pit, not

shown, the frame being supported by the walls of the pit, and thecarriage or bed 2 for supporting the flask 3, is carried by the'frame.The carriage or bed has a pair of flask supporting roller-s4, which areiournaled on the bed, the

pairs being spaced apart longitudinally, and the members of the pairslaterally. The rollers rotate on parallel axes, and they are designedtoreceive the flask 3 to be poured. The flask is rotated by a suitablemotor 5, and the rotation may be controlled by the automatic controllingmechanism shown and described in the above mentioned application, ifdesired.

The molten metal is discharged into the mold from a ladle 6 arranged ina frame 7, which has oppositely extending pairs of pins8 and 9. .Asupport in the nature of a bracket, indicated generally at 10 isconnected with the end of the frame 1, the connection being preferably ahinged connection indicated generally at 11, enabling the bracket to beswung away from the bed when desired. 1 I

The pins '9 of the frame 7 are adaptedto-engage one set of a pluralityofsets of seats 12 in the upper faceof the bracket 10, and the pins 8 areadapted to engage limiting blocks 13 on the bracket, when the ladle isin horizontal position. An arm 14 depends from the frame 7 at one sideof the bracket, and this arm has a pin 15,

which is adapted to seat in a fork 16, atone end of a strut 17, which asshown consists of two portions connected by a turn buckle or sleeve nut,thus enabling adjustment of the length of the strut.

The lower end of the strut is forked and engages a pin 18 in one end ofa lever 19, pivoted at 20 to the pit wall, and the opposite end of thelever is. connected by a .link 21 with suitable mechanism, shown anddescribed in the said prior application, for operating the ladle intotilted or normal position. The ladle normally occupies an uprightposition, and is tilted to the position shown in the drawing to emptythe same, the molten metal being directed from the ladle into the flaskor mold by means of a pouring trough or spout 22. I

The bottom of this spout is so inclined that just enough impetus isimparted to the flowing metal to carry it to the remote or motor end ofthe flask in a stream of substantially uniform cross section,

with very little. or no rebound or surging. The

impetus imparted to the moltenmetal by the in-- clination of the pouringspout is relied upon to obtain longitudinal distribution, and theinclination is calculated in accordance with several factors, such asthe length of the pipe, whether or not the pipe is of the bell andspigot type, and the character and constants of the molten metal.

It has been found in practice, that with a metal of a certain fluidity,and with a known length of f in casting pipe of sixteen foot length ofthe sevpipe. the intim i n of h summer be so eelten metal at one end ofa rotating mold while culated that the inflowing stream will reach thebell or motorend of the flask within a selected 7 time, with very littlerebound, such as would cause surging and disturbance of longitudinaldistribution. The longitudinal distribution -.may be facilitated by soarranging the bed that the flask is slightly inclined toward the motor.end. The

from the centrifugal motion or spinning of the noted that the flask.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be bottom 23 of the trough or spoutisprovided with insets 24 and 25 of refractory materiaL-at the pointwhere thestream of metal from the ladle strikes; These insets areremovable, ,if desired for any purpose, and materially lengthen the lifeof the trough, while at the same time insuring that the inclination ofthe bottom will remain constant. The improved charging mechanism isadapted to be used with the apparatus forming the subject matter of ourabove mentioned application for patent, but it is apparent that it mightbe used with other suitable apparatus if desired.

The bottom of the spout, that is, the surface over whichthe molten metalflows from the tilting ladle to the mold, is formed on the arc ofacircle, so that the direction of the flow of the metal from the ladleis gradually changed from substantially vertical to something nearhorizontal, without disturbance of the even uniform flow of the metal.Furthermore, by providing a tilting ladle operated in the mannerdescribed, the metal is fed gradually andin a uniform stream tothespout, the cross section of the stream from the ladle beingsubstantially the same from the a -moment when discharge begins until itis ended.

,The arrangement of the ladle is such that the head of the metaldischarged is substantially the tom.

same from the commencement to the end of the operation, and this is afeature of importance; in connection with the inclination of the spoutbot- The impetus imparted to the molten metal is such as torcause it toreach the remote end ofthe mold as quickly as possible withoutsubstantial rebound, and to attain a uniform level as quickly aspossible} It will be apparent that the sub- .stantialabsenee of reboundand surging facilitates casting operations, an inclined surface for thespout formed on the arc of "a circle having a 'two'joot radius verynicely fulfills the-conditions eral diameters. That is, the ratiobetween the length of thepipe to be cast and the radius of the circleupon which the incline is formed, is

eight to one when casting pipes of'16 feet in 'length. This'ratio willvary slightly with the length r. the pipe and with the characteristics 7ofthemetal. The more fluid the metal the less incline needed hencegreater the radius, and the j which consists in introducing the chargeof molit is substantially horizontal with impetus just sufllcient tocause the metal to flow to the opposite end of the mold withoutsubstantial rebound, and to cause said metal to lie on the bottomthereof in a mass of substantially uniform cross section prior to thecentrifugal application of'the metal to-the mold wall.

" 2. In apparatus for centrifugally casting pipes,

-mechanism for introducing a charge of molten metal into one end andlengthwise of a substantially horizontal; refractory lined flask ormold, including a spout having its bottom formed on an arc'of a circle,the radius of said circle being with respect to the length of the pipeto be cast substantially in the ratio of one to eight units ofmeasurement, saidspout being inclined at an angle sumclent to effectflow of the metal through the mold from end to end without substantialrebound and in a stream of substantially uniform cross-section.

3. Incentrifugal casting, mechanism for -introducing a charge of moltenmetalinto one end and lengthwise of a substantially horizontalrefractory lined flask ormold', including a spout having the bottomthereof inclined at an angle such that impetus longitudinal of themoldwill be imparted to the metal just sumcient to causeit to. reach theopposite end of the mold and said angle being calculated from length ofmold and fluidity of metal in inverse and direct'ratios respectively.

4. The method of casting hollow metal bodies centrifugally in arefractory lined flask or mold, which consists in introducing the.charge of mol-. ten metal into one end-of a slowly rotating mold whileit is substantially horizontal with impetusjust sufllcient to cause themetal to flow to the opposite end of 'the mold without substantialrebound and tocause said metal to lie on the bottom thereof in a mass ofsubstantially uniform cross section prior to the centrifugal applicationof the metal to the mold wall, and then quickly accelerating the, speedof rotation of the mold to apply the metal to the inner wall thereofcentrifugally.

-5. The method of .casting hollow metal bodiesl25 .centrifugally in arefractory lined flask or mold,

which consists in charging the molteniron into one:end of 'aslowlyrotating mold while it is substantially horizontal over a surfaceinclined inaccordance with. the length of the mold and g thecharacteristics of the molten iron, whereby impetus is imparted :to theadvancing stream of molten iron just sufllcient to cause it to flow tothe opposite end ofthe mold without substan tial rebound and tolie onthe bottom thereof in a mass of substantially uniform cross sectionprior to the centrifugal application of the metal to the mold wall, andthen quickly accelerating the speed of rotation of the mold or flask tocantrifugally apply the metal to the inner ,wall

thereof. H I

combination, a refractory-lined flask andmeans for supporting the samefor rotation in a substan- 6. In acentrifugal casting machine and intially horizontal position, means for rotating the cluding a spouthaving the bottom thereof inclined at such an angle with relation to thelength and position of the flask that the impetus imparted to the moltenmetal flowing over the spout into the flask is such as to cause themetal stream to reach the remote end thereof without substantialrebound, and means for accelerating the speed of rotation of the flaskto centrifugally apply the metal to the inner wall thereof.

'1. In apparatus for centrifugally casting pipes of approximatelysixteen feet in, length, mechanism for introducing a charge of moltenmetal ,into one end and lengthwise of a1 substantially horizontalrefractory-lined flask or mold, including a spout having a portion ofits bottom positioned at an inclination corresponding substantially tothe ar of the segment of a circle havinga 2' radius d operating todeliver the metal stream to the far or remote end of the mold or flaskwithout substantial rebound, and in a stream of substantially uniformcross section.

8., In centrifugal casting and in combination, a refractory-lined flaskor mold and means for rotating and supporting the same for rotation in asubstantially horizontal position, mechanism for introducing a charge ofmolten metal into one end and'lengthwise of the mold or flask while itis so supported, said mechanism including a spout having the bottomthereof on an incline corresponding substantially to the are of a circleout substantial rebound or surge, and means for then accelerating thespeed of rotation of the mold or flask to apply the metal to the innerwall thereof. v

a WILLIAM- D. MOORE.

WALTER MORGAN.

